Poutine

Poutine

Quebec's iconic comfort food: crisp French fries scattered with soft cheese curds and drowned in hot gravy. The heat of the gravy softens the curds into savory, squeaky pockets throughout the fries.

Ingredients

2servings
  • Potatoes · large russets, or 500g frozen fries3
  • Oil for frying · plenty
  • Cheese curds · or torn mozzarella / string cheese200 g
  • Salt · to taste
  • Gravy
  • Butter3 tbsp
  • Flour3 tbsp
  • Beef stock · or chicken stock1.5 cups
  • Worcestershire sauce1 tsp
  • Black pepper · to taste

Steps

  1. Cut the potatoes into thick fries, soak in cold water for 15 minutes, then dry thoroughly. Skip this if using frozen fries.

    ⏲ 15 min
  2. Fry at 160C/320F once to cook through, then drain. Raise to 190C/375F and fry again until crisp, and salt them.

    ⏲ 10 min
  3. Gravy: melt the butter in a pot and stir in the flour, cooking until it turns light brown.

    ⏲ 3 min
  4. Whisk in the stock a little at a time until smooth, add Worcestershire and pepper, and simmer until thickened.

    ⏲ 5 min
  5. Pile the hot fries in a dish and scatter the cheese curds evenly over them.

    ⏲ 1 min
  6. Pour the piping-hot gravy over the top so the curds just start to melt, and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

Variations

  • Italian poutine: Bolognese sauce instead of gravy.
  • Pulled-pork poutine: Topped with shredded BBQ pork.
  • Breakfast poutine: Add a runny egg and bacon.
  • Galbi poutine: A Korean spin with soy-braised short rib on top.

Tips

  • Double-fry the potatoes for crisp outsides and fluffy insides — frozen fries work great too.
  • No cheese curds? Tear up mozzarella or string cheese as a stand-in.
  • Pour the gravy while it's piping hot so the curds melt just right.
  • Bring the curds to room temperature first for better melting.
  • Serve at once — poutine turns soggy if it sits.

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